A Shoot on Martha's Vineyard (34 page)

She shivered. “You know, maybe Kevin was right. Maybe I am crazy. I actually shot those pictures all to pieces!”

“Pictures aren't people,” I said. “You celluloid princesses should know that better than most. Besides, I thought it was pretty funny. And even if it wasn't funny, it sure was effective. Kevin and Kate lost all interest in us.”

She snugged closer. “You don't think it was sort of wacko?”

“No. You're a nurse. You cure people, you don't kill them. You certainly cured Kevin and Kate, at least.”

“Not really. Out in Hollywood, they were up to their old tricks again.”

“But not with us.”

“No, not with us. I'm poison now to Kevin, but, you know, I sort of like Kate, ever since she started leaving you alone. Did I tell you that there are some people in the business who want me to go out there again?”

I felt a familiar little chill inside me. “No, but I'm not surprised. What are you going to do?”

“California is so far from the bluefish! But I'm going to think about it, and we'll talk about it. Meanwhile, I'm going to join the derby and go fishing in the morning, and you're invited to come along. And after that, I have some other plans we should discuss. What's happening with poor Connie Berube?”

“Poor Connie is being charged with two murders. The sheriff got warrants to search Lawrence Ingalls's place and came up with the bills of sale showing that Ingalls originally bought Moonbeam's pickup and Connie's Subaru. And I guess they found some videotapes, too, and ice cream and kids movies and such stuff that Ingalls used to keep the Berube boy happy. On the bright side, the Connie Berube Defense Fund is doing pretty good. A lot of islanders are coming through and we've even got some mainlanders involved.”

Zee sighed. “What a mess that whole situation was. There's just no telling what human beings will do, is there?”

We sat there looking out over our garden, over the pond beyond, over the barrier beach, and on out to the sound beyond, where the darkness was settling in the east. Above, the night sky showed an early star. Zee's mother, Maria, believed in a God who lived up there somewhere. Maybe he knew what was going on.

“What are those other plans?” I asked. “The ones we need to discuss.”

She leaned over and peeked at Joshua, who was almost asleep in his carrier.

“There are three more,” said Zee, coming back to me. “First, I plan to shoot in that competition next month. That's the little plan. The big plans are for a sister for the cub, there, and an addition on the house so she can have her own room. Every little girl should have a room of her own.” She looked up at me. “What do you think?”

I put my arm around her. “It's okay with me if you want to go shooting,” I said. “And I can build the room without any help. But I'll need assistance getting Josh a sister because I've never done a daughter before. In fact, I'm trying to recall how we got Joshua. Maybe you can remind me.”

“I'll show you,” said Zee. “And don't worry; you'll remember right away. It's like riding a bicycle. Once you know how, you never forget.”

THREE RECIPES PREPARED BY J. W. JACKSON IN THIS BOOK

S
MOKED
B
LUEFISH
P
ÂTÉ

8 oz. whipped cream cheese

¹
/
₂
tsp. prepared horseradish

1 large finely diced red onion

5–6 oz. shredded smoked bluefish

Dash of Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. lemon juice

Optional ingredients:

a pinch of cayenne pepper

salt to taste

a little Grey Poupon mustard

Mix ingredients and serve with crackers.

J. W. eats this in every book. He loves smoked bluefish pâté!

S
HERRY AND
G
ARLIC
S
HRIMP
(
OR
F
LOUNDER
)

1–1
¹
/
₂
lbs. large shrimp, shelled, deveined, and patted dry

¹
/
₂
c. olive oil

3 Tbsp. dry sherry

3 large garlic cloves, crushed

¹
/
₂
tsp. thyme, crumbled Salt to taste

¹
/
₈
tsp. red pepper, crushed (or to taste)

Arrange shrimp in single layer in a greased baking dish. Mix remaining ingredients and pour mixture over shrimp. Bake in preheated 400-degree oven for 8 minutes, turning the shrimp once. Serve with pan juices spooned over shrimp.

Rice and steamed spinach are excellent accompaniments.

J. W. cooks this dish in chapter 26 of this book, but he doesn't have any shrimp, so he substitutes flounder. Delish, just the same!

B
LACK
B
EAN AND
R
ICE
S
ALAD

2–3 1-lb. cans of black beans, rinsed and drained

1 lb. frozen corn kernels, cooked (or 1 15-oz. can)

¹
/
₂
c. long-grain rice, cooked

1 large bell pepper, red or green, diced

¹
/
₂
c. red onion, chopped

1 tsp. salt

Dash of Oregano

Good Seasons Mexican Salad Dressing to taste

Optional ingredients:

shredded cheddar cheese or feta cheese

sliced black olives

marinated artichoke hearts

chopped cilantro

Oregano

chili powder

cumin

Mix and serve. It's very good with rice pilaf, wild rice, or basmati rice.

J. W. serves this dish in chapter 3 of this book. It is, of course, excellent!

THE MARTHA'S VINEYARD MYSTERY SERIES BY PHILIP R. CRAIG

A Beautiful Place to Die

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #1)

Death in Vineyard Waters

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #2)

Vineyard Deceit

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #3)

Vineyard Fear

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #4)

Off Season

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #5)

A Case of Vineyard Poison

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #6)

Death on a Vineyard Beach

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #7)

A Deadly Vineyard Holiday

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #8)

A Shoot on Martha's Vineyard

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #9)

A Fatal Vineyard Season

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #10)

Vineyard Blues

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #11)

Vineyard Shadows

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #12)

Vineyard Enigma

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #13)

A Vineyard Killing

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #14)

Murder at a Vineyard Mansion

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #15)

Vineyard Prey

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #16)

Dead in Vineyard Sand

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #17)

Vineyard Stalker

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #18)

Vineyard Chill

(Martha's Vineyard Mystery #19)

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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 1998 by Philip R. Craig

Originally published in hardcover as
A Shoot on Martha's Vineyard

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ISBN 978-1-5011-5359-4 (ebook)